Inconsistency marked the Pam Pack’s 2012 debut as Washington put together a stellar first half to take a 21-7 lead over North Pitt but struggled in the final two quarters as a massive amount of penalties, coupled with the absence of quarterback Jimmy Williams due to a hip injury, hampered the team has it clung on to win 28-20.
Washington (1-0, Coastal Conference) cannot afford to have stretches of subpar play tonight as it hits the road to take on three-time NCHSAA 2-A state champs Tarboro (1-0, Eastern Plains Conference) at 7:30 p.m.
Last season the Vikings, led by star running back Todd Gurley who eventually signed with Georgia, came to Washington and rolled to a 41-0 victory.
This year, Tarboro is minus Gurley, but is led by 6-3 star defensive end Tyquan Lewis and the Vikings’ defense will present a major obstacle to a Pam Pack offense that will likely be playing without Williams.
Pam Pack coach Sport Sawyer said the offense will try and slow down Lewis by presenting the Tarboro defense with different looks, while hoping that athletes like Markel Spencer, Stevie Green and Stephon Moore can make some big plays.
“We’re going to try and use different formations and give our running backs the opportunity to hit the hole hard,” Sawyer said. “We got some speed so if they can hit the hole they’re gone.”
Taking down Tarboro is a tough task for any team and in order for the Pack to have a chance at being successful it must cut back on its mistakes.
“We’re going to have one or two penalties because that’s just what happens in the game of football, but we really have to limit the number of penalties,” Sawyer said.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Washington’s new 4-4 scheme looked solid for the most part as it caused three fumbles and recovered two of them with LB Tarhje Burke returning one 85 yards for a score.
“Defensively, the unit only gave up 14 points (the Panthers third TD came on a kick return) and they didn’t do bad,” Sawyer said. “But, we need to establish owning the line of scrimmage.”
On offensive, Washington will likely turn to sophomore QB Patrick Thompson to guide the team’s attack and Sawyer felt confident that his young passer is up for the challenge.
“Patrick’s young and he’s learning,” Sawyer said. “He played some games for us last year and once he gets a little more comfortable he will be fine. I think at practice this week he has gotten more comfortable.”